Donald Weilerstein of Cleveland Quartet interviewed by Nicholas Kitchen of Borromeo Quartet
Keys and Harmony Create Mood and Character
- Composers choose harmonies and keys to express certain emotions.
- Beethoven uses E major to express ecstasy (eg.: Op 59#2, 2nd mvt., and 3rd variation of slow mvt. of Op. 127)
- Harmonic progressions can tell a story.
- Quartet players live daily in these harmonies and their intuitive reactions are insightful and valid.
- Quartet interpretation should express these harmonies, as illuminating them to the audience communicates character and emotion.
Cellowisdom
“What I have in my heart and soul must find a way out. That's the reason for music.”
— Ludwig van Beethoven
